Hydroxyzine and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Red...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 24, 2019

For Anxiety "Anxiety: 25 mg for anxiety relief was not effective at all, like trying to stop a freight train with a film of Saran Wrap. Allergies: It worked wonderfully when taking it 3x a day. Insomnia: Was first given in the hospital at a massive dose. I was flattered for nearly two days with that dose. Tried 100 mg, and it didn’t work, wide awake. In fact, I felt speedy-heart palpitations and anxious. Weight gain: Something my doctor nor pharmacist told me about. I had no idea... insidious little spoken-of side effect. Thought it was my other medications, gained 20 lbs and have been struggling to lose it. I had been averaging losing 1 lb a month while taking the drug. I’ve stopped the drug and pray the remaining 17 lbs are much easier to lose. Hydroxyzine wasn’t a good drug for me, didn’t offer any real return on investment."

• Anx...
• July 29, 2017

For Anxiety "I took this drug for the first time on July 28th for anxiety. At first, the dry mouth made it harder to breathe, which is, of course, a no-no for anxiety folks. I did sleep slightly better without feeling knocked out and had a lot of dreams, but no nightmares. I also had severe stomach cramps and diarrhea for about 10 minutes in the middle of the night. I seemed to have a slight amount of anxiety relief, but also an increase. The lethargy from the medication made me less motivated to care for daily tasks, which then piled up and created more anxiety and agitation. Even so, I could see it being effective for some individuals, just be aware of the possible side effects before beginning this treatment."

• Kgd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2021

For Anxiety "This worked at first for like an hour. I immediately had rebound anxiety, though, awful stomach pain, could not sleep. I was even nauseous. This is my second time taking this, and it makes me feel awful."

• MMa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2018

For Anxiety "Well, it did its job. It took away my nausea and stopped an active anxiety attack, but it knocked me out. I have emetophobia, which is the phobia of vomiting. Once I get a stomach ache, it's a battle for me to stop the anxiety attack that is most likely going to happen. I did have some really messed up dreams and got cold sweats. I don't sleep well, so I don't know if it was just from being knocked out and in a deep, deep sleep or what."

• Nee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

For Sedation "Prescribed 50 mg hydroxyzine for insomnia and insomnia-related anxiety. It’s been sitting in the cabinet for 2 months dreading to take it based on reviews. I took half (25 mg), and my sleep onset was about 15 mins. I woke 1 hour later, super strange feeling on this (more anxiety, restlessness, but getting groggy, not sleepy). I stayed awake for 1.5 hrs, during that time, I ate a snack (which I never do), and I laid down. I fell asleep for 4 hours. I woke again, did the same 1.5 hr waking, and slept another hour. Super groggy and felt I had been run over by a convoy of trucks. After 2 hours, I felt better. I tried to exercise 12 hours after taking, but the CNS depression this causes is too much to perform. Still feeling the effects, I know I could nap, which is not what I want from a sleep med. I’m not sure I’ll try this again, I could have fitful sleep on my own with less side effects."

• lie...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 17, 2015

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "Did nothing for the anxiety I have. It helped a titch with the insomnia if I took the maximum dose for the day, but even then, if I couldn't sleep when it hit, then good luck: would be left feeling odd, kinda out of it, which made me feel anxious. I stopped taking it after Dr. doubled the dose to no improvement."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2021

For Allergies "I have been taking hydroxyzine for 6 days for itching from my skin condition. I also am not sleeping well because of the itchy skin, so I was prescribed this. I thought great, it will do two birds with one stone since it claims to help both problems. I took no more than 25 mg, 3 times a day. It did knock me out day 1, but only for a short time and did little for the itch. Since then, it has been causing terrible insomnia and anxiety for me. Not to mention the medicine head feeling all the time and lack of concentration. I never stop feeling groggy but can't sleep either. I have also experienced jerks or a feeling of falling while trying to sleep. And it still hasn't done much for the itch on day 6. I'm not taking this stuff anymore as of this review. Hopefully, I won't experience any withdrawal symptoms as it claims it won't, but I don't trust this stuff. I would not recommend trying this medication."

• Pat...
• April 13, 2019

For Anxiety "My doctor is stopping all benzodiazepines and opiates in his office. I would take .5 of Xanax as needed. They prescribed 25 mg of hydroxyzine instead for my anxiety. I took it once and it did nothing for me. A couple of days later, I thought I’d try 50 mg, and within 15 minutes, I felt some relief. I took it later as prescribed, and I got so foggy and anxious! Totally so disappointed! I tried yesterday and today at work. I was so panicky and confused that I ended up on the floor today trying to do stretching and muscle relaxation. My face was bright red, and my eyes were glassy. They thought I needed an ambulance. I did my stretches, etc., and tried to go back to work, but it was still the same. I finally said to myself I need relief! I took a benzodiazepine I still had from my last prescription, and within 15 minutes, I felt some relief. I could think clearly and relaxed a bit. I can’t see myself taking it again since it did nothing for me for my anxiety except for that first time."

• Roc...
• November 11, 2017

For Sedation "I have stage 4 cirrhosis, been sober 5 months. I ask for a sleep aid after months of basically no sleep, as cirrhosis can cause a flipped sleep cycle. I took it for a few nights, 50 mg, and it seemed not to work, so I was prescribed an Ambien-like RX. It didn't work after weeks of use. I went back to the original RX of this stuff, stayed on it, and now sleep for 7 hours. Yes, strange dreams, and it really helps with all the anxiety when trying to sleep. Once taken, 30 to 60 minutes later, I feel a warm glow, and bam, I'm asleep. I haven't slept like this without booze in years."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2017

For Anxiety "Oh my! So, I made a mistake and took this pill thinking it was my other pill, and it had me in the ER at the hour, mistakenly taking this. My anxiety shot up so high it was ridiculous, I couldn't calm down. My stomach was in knots, I had stinging pains. It was the worst feeling in my life, and I had been doing so well - I hadn't had a panic attack for over 9 months until mistakenly taking this pill."

• Fuj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2021

For Anxiety "I agree with most users that this item does sort of work in the beginning. It puts me to sleep and relaxes me for a couple of hours. The problem is when the medicine starts to wear off. I only take 25 mg before bed, but wake up about 4-5 hours later in a deep night sweat and intensified anxiety. My morning anxiety is horrible and lasts almost all day! I currently have side effects of having a hyperthyroid. My days are so anxious, and I cannot fall asleep because my heart keeps pounding at night. I am going to try to stop taking this and see if my body can get back to normal."

• ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2021

For Anxiety "I took this for anxiety and sleep at 25 mg-50 mg as needed. I haven’t felt this tired ever in my entire life. This tired is another type of tired that I can’t escape from and makes the world around me feel like slow motion. Increased anxiety and trouble initiating urination. If I wanted to feel like a zombie, I would recommend this med, but since it’s a living nightmare taking this, I DON’T recommend this medication. Stay away!"

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2022

For Anxiety "This is a nightmare medicine. It makes you feel suicidal, makes anxiety worse in every way. Nobody should have this. My nightmares are crazy, mouth dry, can’t concentrate or stay up. Please don’t take this awful medicine."

• Wis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2021

For Anxiety "I had given Vistaril a try for a short period of time. I must say I am sensitive to medication, at a low dose, I feel the full effects right away. The doctor prescribed them to me and had been instructed to take up to 2 tablets if required. I had a bottle I hadn't used in some time and took it with me on vacation just in case. One night I had pretty bad anxiety, so I took 2 almost instantly. Within 20 minutes, I had even worse racing thoughts, which gave me even more anxiety. I remembered then why I had stopped taking it in the first place. Do not recommend at all. And even now, the racing thoughts continue, and it has been days. SOS."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2019

For Pruritus "I only took two pills one day, and in the midst of my sleep, I wake up gasping for air two times, about maybe 30 min to 1 hr apart. Now I’m trying to get to sleep and debating whether I should take this med. I’m scared to take it, and it’s giving me even more anxiety."

• Buh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2019

For Anxiety "I feel taking hydroxyzine for anxiety is like this 90% of a placebo effect. It is basically Benadryl, so it makes you sleepy, which may make you feel more calm. Unfortunately, I can still feel anxious and groggy at the same time, so this was not effective. However, since I am in recovery, benzos are not an option for me, so this is pretty much all I can take besides a maintenance GAD medication. (On that note, I highly recommended Buspirone.)"

• kbv...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 15, 2022

For Sedation "This is the best thing I have found for insomnia. Instead of waking every 1-5 hours, I can sleep as much as 12 hours. It works so well for me that I have to stop taking it because I don't want to become dependent on it (even though non-addicting medically, I don't want to become one of those people who forget how to sleep without drugs). But I use it when I am exhausted and I have a weekend night or holiday to 'catch up on sleep.' I also sometimes have panic attacks and anxiety, and this knocks me out so that I can get over them. That only happens to me about once a month. I also do not usually have a hangover if I stay in bed for 12 hours. I would not recommend taking this pill if you need to get up in less than 8 hours (or even less than 10 hours)."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2021

For Sedation "I took this for the first and last time (hopefully) on July 9 when I was having an Ativan withdrawal. I had constant panic attacks, fits of rage, impulsive violent behavior, and this behavior also happened in the waiting room of the hospital, so they wheeled me back to a room, and I hysterically demanded Ativan, and they told me they didn’t have any (I knew that was a damn lie), so they gave me hydroxyzine. I never took it before, but I was desperate to calm down, so I took it, and within 10 minutes, I was calm, relaxed, and extremely sleepy. The only difference is I was extremely itchy on this, and I complained to my nurse, but she said it stops itching, but it did the opposite for me. It made me even more paranoid and made me nauseous, so eventually, I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I still felt groggy and clumsy. I think I will stick to Ativan and Xanax, never trying new drugs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2018

For Anxiety "This med was given to me for itching caused by anxiety. I've been on this drug for 2 months. I am happy this works for some folks, but still itch, am anxious, and am unable to sleep. 25 mg 3 x day for me with no results."

• Mea...
• September 24, 2019

For Anxiety "I found my anxiety solved by meditation and breathing exercises. The drugs prescribed damaged my body/my cholesterol/blood pressure/anxiety/finances, etc. I am a lifelong athlete, in excellent textbook good health at age 65. Until I survived a trauma and doctors began taking advantage of me and my health programs paid by me. Get your health care statements/Medicare statements/health care statements - compare what your records say to what you remember and to what they billed you and your health care/Medicare."

• Mis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 20, 2016

Hydroxyzine for Anxiety "Made my hair fall out extremely bad. I think this drug made my anxiety worse."

• Ins...
• January 27, 2016

Hydroxyzine for Sedation "Took 2 25 mg Vistaril as ordered. My mind did rest and sleep but had really strange dreams. But didn't wake till morning. Just extremely anxious now because of the freaky dream."

• hds...
• October 12, 2009

Hydroxyzine for Pain "This medication made me very nervous and depressed. Almost like the effects I had from oxycodone. I had to stop taking it after 4 days."

• Boo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2018

For Anxiety "Been on this medication for about one month now, off of it for about 5 days. Experiencing more anxiety. Worst I felt in a long time."

• mil...
• July 8, 2021

For Sedation "Only works for a few months - was prescribed two 25 mg pills, worked for a while, then it started having adverse effects and giving me more anxiety than before and causing me to have sleepless nights."